• barns,  rural life

    “V”agabond or victor?

    Photo by Diane Weidenbenner. There is something romantic and mysterious about old barns. It’s amazing to me that many of them are still standing after time and weather have taken their toll. They were built by human hands and simple materials. Their designs are unique and functional. And, they housed prized possessions at one time – whether it be livestock, hay or equipment. No two are the same. No two stand up to the test of time in the same way. Some are painted while others exhibit the natural beauty of the wood grain. Oh, what stories those wooden walls could weave! I’d like to think that these stately warriors…

  • C.F. Martin,  guitar,  Horace Mann Junior High School,  Pennsylvania

    Passion for music and art

    © 2014 by Diane Weidenbenner I learned how to play guitar on a whim. My parents planned to send me to a private school for junior high, because of desegregation and forced busing in Colorado in the 70s. Even though I lived five minutes away from a junior high school, busing would send me 45 minutes away, to attend a school in a predominantly Hispanic and black neighborhood. When I was asked to sign up for my public school classes, I added Beginning Guitar to my list, along with Home Economics and Spanish. Why not? I’d always wanted to play guitar but I’d never had the opportunity. I thought, “It…